Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed controversial views regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” by receiving gender-affirming care. During a recent interview with conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk voiced his commitment to combat what he describes as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” discussing his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at age 16 and received gender-affirming care amid the pandemic. He stated he felt misled into signing documents relating to her transition, highlighting his concerns about the potential risk of suicide his child faced at that time.
He criticized the medical practices involving young individuals who have not yet reached the age of consent and echoed Peterson’s sentiments, calling those who promote these practices “incredibly evil” and suggesting they should face imprisonment. Musk also expressed regret about not being informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization medications, while noting that these blockers alone do not impair fertility.
Musk characterized this situation as a profound loss, reflecting on the term “deadnaming” and its significance to him personally. His comments follow his recent decision to relocate both X and SpaceX to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which restricts parental notifications in schools concerning transgender youth.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, distancing herself from him entirely. Musk has attributed the estrangement to her progressive school, a theme explored in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him, which also connects Musk’s anti-woke views to his relationship with Wilson.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left political views to adopting right-wing positions, voicing support for various conservative causes, including endorsing former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for traditional energy sectors and oppose clean energy initiatives.